Census data shows Hispanics as the largest minority in N.J.

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerA replica of the first census taken of the population of New Jersey in 1790 is on display at he Newark Public Library. America by the Numbers: A Look at the Census Bureau is an exhibit dedicated to the history of the U.S. census.

Hispanics are now the biggest minority in New Jersey, making up nearly 18 percent of the state’s population, according to new census data.

There were roughly 1.5 million Hispanics in the state last year, when the decennial census was conducted. In 2000, Hispanics accounted for roughly 13 percent of the state’s population.

For census purposes, Hispanics can be of any race.

The white population declined in the last decade to just over 6 million residents, or 68 percent of New Jersey’s population.

The number of New Jersey residents identifying themselves as African-American totaled 1.2 million, up from 1.14 million in 2000. African-Americans now make up 13.7 percent of the state’s population.

The state’s proportion of Asians continued to grow quickly, rising to 8 percent from 5 percent in 2000.

About 240,000 people, or 2 percent, identified themselves as multiracial in the census.